What does Mux do?

Mux keeps your Mac on the highest-priority connection available. It follows your priority order, so Wi-Fi turns off when you plug in Ethernet and turns back on when you unplug. See the Mux page for details.

Why would I need Mux?

macOS already ranks your connections, but it keeps every network active, including the ones you are not using. Mux turns off lower-priority connections once a higher-priority one is up, lets an unstable link settle with a configurable delay, and lets you override the order from the menu bar, without any manual toggling.

What version of macOS do I need?

Mux requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later.

How does Mux decide which network to use?

Mux follows your Mac’s network service order, which you can rearrange in Settings > Network. When a higher-priority connection comes online, Mux waits for your Toggle Delay, 3 seconds by default, then switches to it and turns off lower-priority connections. If your current connection drops, Mux waits at least 5 seconds, or your Toggle Delay if that is longer, before falling back to the next available connection.

What is Preferred Network?

Preferred Network is a temporary override in the menu bar. Choose a connection from the Preferred Network menu, and Mux moves it to the top of your service order and switches to it right away. Choose Auto to clear it and restore your original order. Mux also clears it on its own if that connection goes away.

What is the difference between Turn Off and Disconnect?

Choose either under Wi-Fi Action in Settings > General. Turn Off, the default, powers down the Wi-Fi hardware and reconnects most reliably. Disconnect keeps the hardware on, so AirDrop, Handoff, and AirPods keep working, but if the Mac keeps rejoining that network, Mux stops after several attempts and leaves Wi-Fi connected.

Does Mux work with docks and USB-C Ethernet adapters?

Yes. Ethernet from a dock or adapter appears as its own connection that you can place in your service order. If the link drops briefly, as it can when a dock or display reconnects, Mux waits at least 5 seconds before falling back to Wi-Fi. After login and after waking from sleep, Mux also waits for the system to settle before changing Wi-Fi.

Does Mux work with a VPN?

Yes. Mux switches only between Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Thunderbolt, and USB tethering connections. It never turns off VPN or bridge services, and they do not appear in the Preferred Network menu.

Will Mux change my network settings?

On its own, Mux changes only which connections are active. It disables lower-priority services, turns off or disconnects Wi-Fi, and moves a Preferred Network to the top of your service order, then reverses each change once it is no longer needed. Changes you make in Settings > Network, such as a new service order, apply to macOS as they would in System Settings, and saved Wi-Fi networks, passwords, and IP settings are never touched.

What happens if Mux quits unexpectedly?

Your network settings stay as they were, so a connection Mux turned off stays off. When you relaunch Mux, it turns back on anything that should no longer be off, but a service order changed by Preferred Network stays until you rearrange it in Settings > Network. When you quit Mux normally, it turns back on everything it turned off and restores your original service order.

What does my license cover?

A Personal license from the Parcse Shop covers three Macs, and you can add more Macs at checkout or later in the License Manager, up to fifty on one license. Your license key arrives by email. Enter it in Mux Settings > License and click Activate, or in the activation window Mux shows once the trial ends.

Does Mux send any data over the network?

Mux manages your connections locally, and its activity log stays on your Mac. Its network activity is limited to license checks, update checks, and diagnostics. Diagnostics are on by default, and you can turn them off in Settings > General > Privacy. See the privacy policy for details.